Message from the Dean

It is with great sadness that I open this newsletter by noting the passing of our friend and colleague, James Q. Wilson, on March 2. Jim was a long-time member of the PRGS Board of Governors and had been battling a form of leukemia for nearly two years. He won many battles but the time came to lay down his sword.

In the past few weeks, much has been written — in publications ranging from the major newspapers, to the Economist, to Inside Criminal Justice — about Jim's extraordinary role in informing, influencing, and shaping public policy. We'd like to take particular note of his unwavering belief in the uniqueness and necessity of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and our graduates, as well as his willingness to serve as thoughtful advisor, outside reader, co-author, and mentor to the school’s community.

Jim's influence on academics and policymakers alike will continue through his enduring scholarship. I am pleased to announce that PRGS will be furthering Jim's legacy of ideas and ideals through the James Q. Wilson Dissertation Award and the James Q. Wilson Public Policy Collection in the RAND library, both of which we established shortly before his passing. Jim's friendship will, of course, be carried on in our hearts.

Jaycocks, Oguz Contribute to Idea Showcase

PRGS students Amber Jaycocks (cohort '08) and Mustafa Oguz (cohort '09) participated in the RAND-wide Idea Showcase in March. Oguz shared unique ideas on simulation software, while Jaycocks was on a team suggesting the development of automated quality management tools. The Idea Showcase is designed to highlight and promote the methodological and technological innovation of researchers at RAND.

New Team-Taught Course in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The PRGS curriculum is constantly being reviewed and refined to be more relevant, better prepare our students for the job opportunities they will face upon graduation, and help us all reach our goal of "being the answer." To that end, this year we introduced a new, team-taught course that is required of all first year students, "Social and Behavioral Sciences I: Social and Behavioral Sciences Perspectives."

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Rich Takes Helm as President of RAND

In 2011, Michael D. Rich was selected president and chief executive officer of RAND. In an interview with RAND Review magazine, Rich talked about his new role and the future of RAND.

Dean Marquis Leads RAND's Focus on Innovation

PRGS plays an active role as an engine of innovation at RAND. In 2011, Dean Susan Marquis was named RAND’s vice president for emerging policy research and methods. In this capacity, she now oversees and integrates not just PRGS but also the activities of RAND's chief technology officer, the methods laboratory, the Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition, and RAND's program of self-initiated research.

Catching Up with Alumni

Raube Enlightens Students over Breakfast

Kristi Raube (cohort '87) visited PRGS on March 1 to have breakfast with several students and talk about her career path as a self-described "reluctant academic." The Office of Career Services encourages alumni to come back and share insights into their experiences since graduating from PRGS.

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Our Newest Alumni

Adam Gailey (cohort '07) completed his dissertation on "Planning for an Aging Nation: New Estimates to Inform Policy Analysis for Senior Health." He will be joining Charles River Associates in their Los Angeles office this summer as a senior associate.

Jianhui Hu (cohort '05) completed her dissertation on "Old-age Disability in China: Implications for Long-Term Care Policies in the Coming Decades." She has a job with Henry Ford Health System as a research associate.

Ryan Keefe (cohort '04) completed his dissertation on "Reconsidering California Transport Policies: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in an Uncertain Future." He is an operations research analyst at Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Boston.

Groves and Fishbach Contribute to Louisiana Coastal Master Plan

David Groves (cohort '01) and Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04) were key members of the RAND team that developed a hurricane flood risk model and a planning tool to assess Louisiana's coastal restoration projects.

Griffin Leads Smart Grid Initiative in Hawaii

Jay Griffin (cohort '04) heads the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and is leading a "smart grid" pilot project with some Maui homeowners to reduce their electricity usage and costs. KHON2-TV interviewed him about the project.

New Jobs!

David Maxwell-Jolly (cohort '77) is first chief operating officer of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Amber Moreen (cohort '06) was appointed chief of staff to the Milwaukee County Executive.

Samantha Ravich (cohort '92 and member of the PRGS Board of Governors) is co-chair of the National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community.

Anna-Marie Vilamovska (cohort '05) was appointed Bulgaria's Secretary for Healthcare, Education and Science, by her country's new president.

Have You Completed the Alumni Survey?

The deadline for responding is April 3. If you have not received a survey, please contact Mike Andrulis at andrulis@rand.org or 310.393.0411, x6075.

April 23: IDSS Presents Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond will be the guest speaker at the PRGS International Development Speaker Series on April 23; his topic is "The Fundamental Problems Facing Japan Today." Diamond is a professor of geography at the University of California at Los Angeles and the author of the best-selling Collapse, Guns, Germs and Steel, and The Third Chimpanzee.

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May 1: PRGS Alumni and RAND Alumni Association Event

Save the date! RAND's Washington office will host a gathering of PRGS and RAND alumni on May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. An invitation will be forthcoming in early April.

May 9: IDSS Presents Dean Karlan

Dean Karlan will be the guest speaker at the PRGS International Development Speaker Series on May 9, discussing microeconomic issues of public policies and poverty. Karlan is a professor of economics at Yale University, an affiliate of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD) and the president and founder of Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).

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June 22-23: Commencement Weekend

All alumni are welcome and encouraged to join us for the celebration dinner and policy discussion on Friday night, and commencement on Saturday, featuring World Bank president Robert B. Zoellick. Special highlights this year will include the Inaugural Alumni Leadership Award and the debut of the official PRGS Academic Regalia!

Did You Know...

We Have a Facebook Page

Keep up with what's happening at the school and among your fellow alumni by choosing to "like us" on Facebook. Liking us and sharing our posts also helps to improve the reputation and visibility of the school.

PRGS Has a Private LinkedIn Group

Join, and use it for networking! We are working to expand our private network on LinkedIn by posting job opportunities and other discussions there. If you're on LinkedIn, search "groups" for "Pardee RAND Graduate School" and ask to join.

We Have a Career Services Mailing List

Additionally, if you are considering a career change or looking for your next opportunity, please sign up for our Career Bulletin by sending a message to prgscareers@prgs.edu.

We're Changing the Name of This Newsletter

Our Alumni newsletter clearly presents more than "findings" — what do you think it should be called? Send your ideas to (for now!) findings@prgs.edu.

We respect your privacy. If you wish to manage your subscription for this periodic newsletter,please visit http://www.prgs.edu/alumni/newsletter/subscription.html.